Activists Call On State To Fill Nearly 1 Billion Transit Funding Gap I Dont Know How Im Going To Get Around

Hundreds of demonstrators filled Daley Plaza in Downtown Chicago, demanding action from Governor JB Pritzker and state lawmakers on a $770 million transit funding crisis. Experts warn that without funding, the Regional Transportation Authority could slash transit services by 40%, impacting hundreds of thousands of commuters. Alderman Matt Martin highlighted the critical role of public transit in supporting affordable housing and education, vowing to fight for a resolution. Activists criticized the Democratic Party for failing to pass a reform bill aimed at addressing the funding gap, which stalled in the House of Representatives earlier this year. Protesters chanted for a special legislative session, and Pritzker hinted that such a session could occur this summer.

Critics of the governor argue he has not done enough to secure public transportation funding amid speculation about a 2028 presidential run. The Regional Transit Authority estimates that without state funding, one in five Chicagoans could lose access to public transit by 2026. Disability rights activists also expressed concern, stating that transit cuts would disproportionately affect individuals with disabilities reliant on public transportation.